When gutting the precats is there a method to the madness to make the process easier like should the front cat be unhooked first? Is it easier to take off the upper intake manifold to get to the rear precat bolts ? Generally I was looking for a how to but any tips on the process would be great thanks guys !

 

From my experience on the 5.5 gen, you're gonna need to remove the front precat to gut it. How easy it is to remove will depend on the level of rust you have. The hardest part for mine was getting the 3 bolts off the front heat shield. I swear the heads of those bolts must be made of play-doh because all of them ended up a bit rounded. For the rear, if you NEED to remove it, I've read that it is best to take off the lower collector. However, I ended up not having to remove the rear one at all. If I were you, I would try first doing the rear with it still bolted up. Just remember to use something like PB Blaster on all bolts you plan on removing far ahead of time (the night before). Finally had to buy a set of those sockets for removing damaged nuts/bolts to get the heat shield off without cutting it.

 

Does anyone really try to salvage those heat shields? Half of the bolt holes on mine were completely rusted out anyway. The bolt had nothing to hold onto. Most of the rest I just snapped off. I understand the point of the heat shields but it just seems like more trouble than they are worth.

 

you gut precats like you gut pumpkins for Halloween...grab a spoon and start digging that ish outa there

 

Ha, probably just me. I'm scrapping the ones that were on the y-pipe, but figured that unless I snapped one of the bolts holding the ones over the manifolds that I would at least try to put them back. And while I was replacing other nuts/bolts, I ordered new ones for the front heat shield too. I was concerned with the proximity of that front exhaust manifold to the plastic rad. fans/assembly.

 

I need this done ASAP. Anyone in ny willing to help me out? for a fee of course.

 

^^^
Your best bet if you cant do it your self would to throw out a local add on craigs list. I got some poor soul to swap out my pre-cats with gutted ones and put in my solid motor mounts for $150

 

1. Remove old bolts from front precat and Y pipe buy new stainless steel hardware
2. Remove Y and precats from car
3. Big screwdriver or tire iron and big hammer
4. Beat and pry substrate out of front precat
5. Rear precat will take longer same process
6. Replace with new hardware and gaskets

 

I'll help you do it. Did it to mine not to long ago. The front precats are easy to do but the back one is where the the **** storm comes in. I'm in Jersey and my boys shop is in the Bronx so we can go to either one.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...while-car.html

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...hlight=gutting

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...hlight=gutting

 

Just buy some OBX headers and save yourself the hassle or doing the job twice. Just my opinion...

 

Save the T&E ^^^